Nano-confinement-inspired metal organic framework/polymer composite separation membranes

• A defect-free, robust and selective barrier is essential for manufacturing membranes with targeted high permeability and selectivity. Here we report a new route to engineering a separation composite membrane by confining both channels in nanoscale metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and charges in a polyelectrolyte in the inner space of a porous supportviaa counter-diffusion method. A simple thermal annealing treatment of the interface between the MOF, polymer and support favorably reduced voids inside this nano-confinement environment. As this composite membrane combines both the support and barrier as one, it minimizes mass transfer resistance of water molecules. In a separation test, it readily achieved the state-of-the-art permeance. This simple chemical approach to upgrade membrane structures will offer wide opportunities in separation devices.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Kemi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Chemical Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)